We have an active ESG program covering environmental responsibility, social engagement, and corporate governance.
These matters are important to our customers, staff, and investors, and have an impact on the company’s valuation, revenue potential, access to financing, and ability to recruit.
Environmental Responsibility
Software development is a business with limited impact on the environment. Additionally, many of our customers develop solutions that help reduce environmental impact. In the telecom sector, software facilitates and improve remote communication, reducing the need to travel for physical meetings.
We also help customers create solutions that require less energy and use resources more efficiently. Creating innovative solutions that support sustainable development is a key component of our product plans. The software we produce is also delivered electronically, which results in minimal environmental impact from distribution, and is combined with electronic invoicing and payment.
We comply to relevant environmental legislation and environmental standards in all markets in which the group operates. In addition, all employees avoid wasting resources by recycling materials and waste generated in office environments.
Social Engagement
Our business operations is permeated by the shared core values of customer focus, innovation, agility, teamwork and accountability. They serve as an inner compass for how we should conduct ourselves internally and towards customers. They also provide guidance when taking ethical standpoints, and contribute to reaching wise, long-term decisions. All employees should be recognized and feel that they are contributing to the success of the company. We also support a range of charitable projects, and encourage all employees to act in a socially and ethically responsible manner.
Gender equality and diversity are two other aspects that we prioritize. They help improve decision-making, occupational health and safety and foster an inclusive corporate culture. The Management Team is convinced that diversity also creates business opportunities through larger contact networks and a better understanding of individual needs. We aspire to achieve a higher share of female employees in all parts of the business operations and in management positions. Gender equality is evaluated regularly based on criteria in four segments: salary and benefits, recruitment, health and safety, and skills development.
Discrimination and prejudicial treatment are two risks in the human resources area. We manage these risks through the company’s Code of Conduct and Equal Opportunities Policy.
The Code of Conduct includes guidelines on individual rights and obligations, while the Equal Opportunities Policy states that no one may be subject to prejudicial treatment based on gender, religion, age, disability, sexual orientation, nationality, political opinion, or social and ethnic origin. Accordingly, during the recruitment process values employees with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Diversity represents a strength and a competitive advantage when understanding and communicating with customers and stakeholders from different cultures.
Corporate Governance
As part of corporate governance, our ethical guidelines and Code of Conduct aim to ensure that all employees comply with laws and regulations in their daily work, and that anticorruption legislation is respected. For example, we do not conduct business that is inappropriate based on ethical considerations.
A risk of corruption can exist in business relationships with customers and in procurement of equipment and services. The purpose of the Code of Conduct is to emphasize the fundamental principles that govern the way we conduct our operations and manages relationships with employees, business partners and other stakeholders.
To ensure that our employees comply with the company’s Code of Conduct, there are detailed processes and guidelines regulating the approval and granting of individual transactions. All major deals are reviewed by an internal committee that includes the entire Management Team, and sensitive transactions involving technology subject to export controls are reviewed correspondingly, regardless of the size of deal. We have refrained from doing business with countries and companies that are unsuitable for various reasons.
Furthermore, we have an ESG Committee that reports to the Management Team. It is chaired by the Chief Marketing Officer and is composed of representatives from external communication, environment and quality control, and human resources.
To further improve ESG work and measure progress, we are rated by independent agencies on a regular basis. In recent years, CDP (www.cdp.net/en) has evaluated the company in terms of sustainability, and EcoVadis (www.ecovadis.com), within responsible business. This has resulted in a number of concrete actions, such as formulating targets for renewable energy consumption and for reduction of CO2 emissions.